The following articles appeared on Heal With Hope in May 2009:
 

• Raw Food Cures

• How Much Water Should You Drink 

Raw Food Cures

from www.SixWise.com

I think you will enjoy this comparison between certain foods that are believed to benefit certain areas of the body, and the similarities in appearance they have!!  A coincidence? Or perhaps it's the miracle of Nature at work...

Raw food proponents have long been spreading the word that a predominantly raw food diet will give you more energy, slow down aging, improve your skin, boost your mood, and fight a host of chronic diseases including chronic fatigue syndrome, Crohn's disease and even cancer.

Walnuts are a perfect example of the doctrine of signatures; they look like little brains, and they contain omega-3 fats, which support brain health.

Yet, long before that, sometime in the early 17th century a German mystic named Jakob Bohme realized a philosophy known as "the doctrine of signatures." According to Bohme's writings, the doctrine of signatures refers to the notion that God marked objects with a sign or "signature" revealing their true purpose. The original theory has been traced back to Galen, a well-known physician and medical researcher around 159 A.D.

What does this have to do with food? The doctrine of signatures says that plants look like the body part they're meant to heal, nourish and support.

''God created plants,'' Dr. Stephen H. Koslow, director of Neuroscience and Behavioral Science at the National Institute of Mental Health told The New York Times of Galen's realization, ''as a provision for the health of human beings, and left a sign on them -- some feature of their shape, color, habitat or behavior -- for human beings to decipher.''

Many scientists call the philosophy superstition and mere coincidence, but those in the natural health arena believe God left us these clues on purpose so we could nourish our bodies.

Which Raw Foods' Appearances Reveal Their Uses?

Take a look through the list below and decide for yourself … do raw foods contain clues from God?

 1. Sliced Carrots:
They look like the human eye (complete with pupil, iris and radiating lines), and research shows carrots enhance blood flow and function of the eyes. 
 

2. Tomatoes:
Like your heart, a tomato has four chambers and is red. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which is excellent for your heart. 
 

3. Grapes:
A cluster of grapes is shaped like your heart, and each grape could be a blood cell. Science shows that grapes are nourishing for your heart and blood. 
 

4. Walnuts:
These wrinkly nuts look like little brains, which makes sense considering walnuts help develop more than three dozen neurotransmitters for brain function, and are a rich source of brain-healthy omega-3 fats. 
 

5. Kidney Beans:
Of course these look like your kidneys, and they contain nutrients that can help maintain and heal kidney function. Kidney beans are also an excellent source of the trace mineral, molybdenum. This mineral helps detoxify sulfites, a type of preservative added to many foods (and to which many people are sensitive), from the body. 
 

6. Celery, Bok Choy and Rhubarb:
These and other rigged, ribbed veggies resemble your bones. They are also 23 percent sodium -- just like your bones -- which is important since your body will pull sodium from your bones if it doesn't get enough from your diet.
 

7. Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears:
Ever notice how these raw foods resemble a woman's womb and cervix? Well eating one avocado a week has been found to help balance hormones, prevent cervical cancer and help women shed birth weight. Ironically, it also takes nine months for an avocado to grow from blossom to ripened fruit. 
 

8. Figs:
These fruits are full of seeds and hang in twos while growing. They're also known to increase the number and mobility of sperm and help overcome male infertility. 
 

9. Sweet Potatoes:
These veggies look like your pancreas and help to stabilize your blood sugar levels and lower insulin resistance. They're even known as an "anti-diabetic" food. 
 

10. Olives:
Shaped much like a woman's ovaries, olives actually support the function of the ovaries. 
 

11. Oranges, Grapefruits and Other Citrus:
These resemble mammary glands, and the fruits assist the health of the breasts. 
 

12. Onions:
These look like your body's cells, and science shows that onions help to remove waste materials from your body's cells.

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How Much Water Should You Drink?

The following information is from the Mayo Clinic, www.MayoClinic.com
 

Water is essential to good health, yet needs vary by individual.  How much water should you drink each day? A simple question with no easy answers. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years, but in truth, your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live.Though no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about your body's need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.

Health benefits of water:

Water is your body's principal chemical component, making up, on average, 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.
 
Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired. 
 
How much water do you need?

Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water. 

Several approaches attempt to approximate water needs for the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate. 

• The average urine output for adults is about 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) a day. You lose close to an additional liter of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Food usually accounts for 20 percent of your total fluid intake, so if you consume 2 liters of water or other beverages a day (a little more than 8 cups) along with your normal diet, you will typically replace the lost fluids.
• Another approach to water intake is the "8 x 8 rule" — drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (about 1.9 liters). The rule could also be stated, "drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," as all fluids count toward the daily total. Though the approach isn't supported by scientific evidence, many people use this basic rule as a guideline for how much water and other fluids to drink.
• The Institute of Medicine advises that men consume roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.
• Even apart from the above approaches, if you drink enough fluid so that you rarely feel thirsty and produce 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) or more of colorless or slightly yellow urine a day, your fluid intake is probably adequate.  

Factors that influence water needs:
 
You may need to modify your total fluid intake depending on how active you are, the climate you live in, your health status, and if you're pregnant or breast-feeding. 
 
Exercise. If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to compensate for the fluid loss. An extra 400 to 600 milliliters (about 1.5 to 2.5 cups) of water should suffice for short bouts of exercise, but intense exercise lasting more than an hour (for example, running a marathon) requires more fluid intake. How much additional fluid you need depends on how much you sweat during exercise, the duration of your exercise and the type of activity you're engaged in. During long bouts of intense exercise, it's best to use a sports drink that contains sodium, as this will help replace sodium lost in sweat and reduce the chances of developing hyponatremia, which can be life-threatening. Also, continue to replace fluids after you're finished exercising.

Environment. Hot or humid weather can make you sweat and requires additional intake of fluid. Heated indoor air also can cause your skin to lose moisture during wintertime. Further, altitudes greater than 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) may trigger increased urination and more rapid breathing, which use up more of your fluid reserves.

Illnesses or health conditions. Signs of illnesses, such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, cause your body to lose additional fluids. In these cases you should drink more water and may even need oral rehydration solutions, such as Gatorade, Powerade or CeraLyte. Also, you may need increased fluid intake if you develop certain conditions, including bladder infections or urinary tract stones. On the other hand, some conditions such as heart failure and some types of kidney, liver and adrenal diseases may impair excretion of water and even require that you limit your fluid intake.
 
Pregnancy or breast-feeding. Women who are expecting or breast-feeding need additional fluids to stay hydrated. Large amounts of fluid are used especially when nursing. The Institute of Medicine recommends that pregnant women drink 2.3 liters (about 10 cups) of fluids daily and women who breast-feed consume 3.1 liters (about 13 cups) of fluids a day.

Beyond the tap - other sources of water:
 
Although it's a great idea to keep water within reach at all times, you don't need to rely only on what you drink to satisfy your fluid needs. What you eat also provides a significant portion of your fluid needs. On average, food provides about 20 percent of total water intake, while the remaining 80 percent comes from water and beverages of all kinds. 
 
For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and tomatoes, are 90 percent to 100 percent water by weight. Beverages such as milk and juice also are composed mostly of water. Even beer, wine and caffeinated beverages — such as coffee, tea or soda — can contribute, but these should not be a major portion of your daily total fluid intake. Water is one of your best bets because it's calorie-free, inexpensive and readily available. 
 
Staying safely hydrated:
 
It's generally not a good idea to use thirst alone as a guide for when to drink. By the time you become thirsty, it's possible to already be slightly dehydrated. Further, be aware that as you get older your body is less able to sense dehydration and send your brain signals of thirst. Excessive thirst and increased urination can be signs of a more serious medical condition. Talk to your doctor if you experience either.
 
To ward off dehydration and make sure your body has the fluids it needs, make water your beverage of choice. Nearly every healthy adult can consider the following: 

• Drink a glass of water with each meal and between each meal.
• Hydrate before, during and after exercise.
• Substitute sparkling water for alcoholic drinks at social gatherings.
• If you drink water from a bottle, thoroughly clean or replace the bottle often. 

Though uncommon, it is possible to drink too much water. When your kidneys are unable to excrete the excess water, the electrolyte (mineral) content of the blood is diluted, resulting in low sodium levels in the blood, a condition called hyponatremia. Endurance athletes, such as marathon runners, who drink large amounts of water are at higher risk of hyponatremia. In general, though, drinking too much water is rare in healthy adults who consume an average American diet.
 
If you're concerned about your fluid intake, check with your doctor or a registered dietitian. He or she can help you determine the amount of water that's best for you.

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